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Although there are already a few discussions re: buying/sizing hakama, I found it difficult to find solid info on how much shrinkage to expect with a new cotton hakama.
So after buying one and washing it a few times, here are my shrinkage measurements that someone might find useful when trying to gauge what size to buy.

The hakama is indigo, #10000 cotton from Iwata. It's a size 26.5 which is supposed to be around 100cm bottom of belt to hem, mine (and my girlfriend's) came in at 104cm. The front belt was extended to 4.5m and arrived at 4.56m.

Unwashed
Length -- 104cm, Belt -- 4.56m

After 1st wash
Length -- 102cm, Belt -- 4.50m

After 2nd wash
Length -- 101cm, Belt -- 4.46m

After 3rd wash
Length -- 101 cm, Belt -- 4.40m

After 4th wash
Length -- 101cm, Belt -- 4.40m

This was from washing in cold water in a bathtub and drip-drying in the shade. It was washed again as soon as it was dry (about a day) and wasn't worn. Incidentally, although there wasn't much/any dye in the water at the 4th wash, there is plenty on my hands and gi after wearing.

Hmmm.. Unless you are training outside...or training in extreme heat and getting your hakama saturated in sweat, why are you washing it so much?
I have three hakama. Two of which I've never washed. One of which I've washed because I used it training on a beach.
Hakama really don't get dirty, unless of course you are outside or really sweaty. I've always viewed it as a sort of an over dress for your gi(which should be washed regularly, according to how nasty you get.)

I aspire to own one ONE day. Years and years down the road when I am forced to wear a hakama as a yudansha. I already gripe and complain when sensei asks me to wear a hakama to help him teach the actors (they are doing "Throne of Blood"). My sighs and face never seem to get my point across. HAHA.

~Look into the eyes of your opponent & steal his spirit.
~To be a good martial artist is to be good thief; if you want my knowledge, you must take it from me.

Yeah, all the washing was to remove the excess dye. Iwata gave explicit warning that it would need a few washes first. Still, after 4 washes and a few weeks of wear, it leaves my hands and gi blue but is showing signs of getting better.
For what it's worth, I did actually want a black one but Iwata don't make black cotton hakama (nor do Tozando, I think)

I aspire to own one ONE day. Years and years down the road when I am forced to wear a hakama as a yudansha. I already gripe and complain when sensei asks me to wear a hakama to help him teach the actors (they are doing "Throne of Blood"). My sighs and face never seem to get my point across. HAHA.

I prefer to wear the hakama. It covers up the fact that I wear yoga pants and not gi bottoms... they seriously don't make gi pants for short full hipped women. I seriously question how girls bigger than me can even get flexibility in those gi pants.